16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”
18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
John 16:16–18
In contrast to many present-day high-control leadership structures, Jesus was masterful in introducing leadership vacuums into the development pathway of His disciples. Through His strategic absence, He communicated both trust and challenge in ways that remain a model for every healthy leader.
Let’s begin with a working definition of what a leadership vacuum is—and what it is not.
Defining a Leadership Vacuum
A leadership vacuum is an intentional leadership gap that demands to be filled.
Most leadership vacuums we encounter are negative and reactive. For example:
- Unintentional vacuums: Gaps created through neglect that lead to confusion and wasted momentum.
- Crisis-induced vacuums: Gaps created through moral failure, burnout, or unexpected events.
These scenarios require leaders to step in quickly to stabilize the situation—but that is a different conversation.
The intentional leadership vacuums we are focusing on here are modeled after Jesus’ leadership. He often combined high challenge with strategic absence to create space for His followers to grow.
The passage in John 16 reflects a pattern seen throughout Jesus’ ministry. We observe this when He sends out the twelve inexperienced disciples (Matthew 10), equipping them with simple instructions and calling them to depend on God. We also see it in His rhythm of withdrawing to the mountains, leaving His disciples to wrestle through challenges—including moments of failure, such as their inability to cast out a demon (Mark 9:14–29).
Before His ascension to heaven, Jesus instructs His disciples to “wait for the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4), knowing that something essential would be formed in them. He was teaching them that a leadership vacuum is not abandonment—it is trust.
Key Lessons
Here are three key lessons:
- Even when they failed, Jesus continued to trust His disciples.
- Jesus always returned to His disciples after the gap.
- These leadership vacuums became spaces where the Holy Spirit formed leaders. As Jesus promised: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you… I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:16, 18).
Putting This Into Practice
How is God prompting you to be more intentional in creating leadership vacuums for those you lead? Consider the following reflection questions:
- Devotion Question: In what current situations is Jesus’ approach to leadership vacuums challenging for you?
Application: Journal this and commit it to prayer. - Ego Question: What are you currently doing that one of the men you lead could do if given room (permission, time, or support)?
Application: Share this with a mentor or accountability partner. - Stabilization Question: What leadership gaps—caused by crisis, neglect, or burnout—require you to step in and repair?
Application: List them and allocate resources accordingly. - Succession Question: Who are 2–3 men around you who need you to step back so they can step up?
Application: Schedule time with each of them, share your thoughts, and invite their feedback.
An essential element of Jesus’ ministry was creating space for others to grow. Any leader who chooses to follow His model invites the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of those they lead—and positions themselves to lead with No Regrets.
As he leads No Regrets Men’s Ministry as Executive Director, Albo Esilaba remains committed to multiplying discipleship. He envisions a movement of men who not only know Christ but actively disciple others—men who lead their families, workplaces and communities with courage, humility and purpose.
